BioVision 2007, the World Life Sciences Forum, Set to Tackle Some of Today's Most Critical Health, Nutrition and Environmental Issues

December 21, 2006

-- The 5th edition of BioVision (March 11 - 14, 2007 in
Lyon, France) will
gather leading international experts on health, nutrition
and environment
issues to discuss, debate and agree actions for change.
LYON, France, Dec. 20 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- BioVision
today confirmed
its broad ranging schedule for the fifth edition of
BioVision, the World Life
Sciences forum. The 2007 event will review a number of
critical and topical
issues: from the ethical and scientific conditions of
stem-cell research for
regenerative cell therapies to the application of
nanotechnologies to health
and environment fields, from the development of bio energy
solutions in
response to global warming and water rarefaction. These are
just some of the
key issues that representatives from science and business
have identified
over the past 12 months for debate and action at BioVision,
in Lyon, France
in March 2007.
BioVision differs from other scientific and business
forums because of
its unique approach to examining today's most important
scientific issues.
The Forum brings together representatives from science,
politics and industry
together with civil society representatives to debate key
issues our society
faces, as far as health, nutrition and the environment are
concerned.
The industrial application of scientific improvements
fosters great hope
in the struggle against rare pathologies, malnutrition and
pollution. But
theses advancements are increasingly raising more and more
questions, concern
and opposition, especially from societal groups. In order
to advance, these
complex and often sensitive issues require both
transparency and cooperation
between the main players: citizens, scientists,
industrialists and decision-
makers.
"There are important views and opinions held by
these different groups
and yet they frequently don't see eye to eye. BioVision
aims to break down
barriers, create dialogue and foster greater understanding
among these key
groups," said Philippe Desmarescaux, President,
BioVision.
BioVision is a leading Life Sciences forum now entering
its fifth
edition. In 2005, more than 4,100 participants from 70
countries attended,
representing a 28% increase from the previous event.
BioVision 2007 differs from previous editions in a
number of ways and
seeks to bring a new level of innovation to scientific and
business debate:
-- The event will focus solely on "The
Contribution of Life Sciences to
the Millennium Development Goals". Among the
objectives set out for
2015 are: reducing by 50% the proportion of the
world's starving
population, reducing by two-thirds the rate or
mortality for under-
fives, eliminating the spread of AIDS, overcoming
malaria and other
deadly diseases, making available and at affordable
prices all useful
medicines, ensuring a sustainable environment and
dividing in half the
proportion of the world's population that doesn't
have easy access to
drinking water. Unfortunately, it is clear that
intermediary goals set
for 2015 are unlikely to be met in the concerned
countries if no
further efforts are made.
-- Ten pre-conferences were held during 2006. These
sessions have set the
stage for the debate and prepared the framework for
BioVision 2007 to
ensure that the Forum goes beyond stimulating
dialogue to examine
concrete and necessary actions.
-- The primary goal of BioVision, the World Life
Sciences Forum, 2007, is
to develop concrete recommendations and proposals,
leading whenever
possible, to constructive action.
-- The "World Foundation for Life Sciences"
was founded to bring necessary
financial means to help fund or achieve a number of
specific projects
arising from the conclusions drawn at BioVision.
BioVision 2007: preliminary program highlights
-- March 11th - afternoon: BioVision Nobel Laureates
Session
-- March 12th - morning: round-tables
-- March 12th afternoon and March 13th: debates and
conferences:
- Health:
- Poverty diseases
- Immunization for all
- Cellular therapy
- Agriculture/Food:
- Integrated approaches to eradicate
hunger
- Food for the future: north and south
issues
- Development of agriculture in saline and
unexploited areas
- Environment/Energy:
- Water
- Bio energy after oil
- Nanotechnologies and life sciences
-- March 14th - morning: Conclusions and
recommendations
BioVisionaries Session
Program and registrations
The complete BioVision 2007, pre-conference reports and
further press
information is available online at http://www.biovision.org
. The system is
now open for media accreditation.
General information, official program, pre-conference
reports, agenda,
news
http://www.biovision.org
Debates and discussion on:
http://www.biovision-blog.org
Media accreditation and materials
http://www.biovision.org/press_room.htm
For more information, please contact:
France and overseas
Edelman
Anna Adlewska / Clina Viollet
Tel: +33-1-56-69-75-00
Email: anna.adlewska@edelman.comclina.viollet@edelman.com
United States
Edelman
Jeff Picarello
Tel: +1-212-704-8244
Email: jeff.picarello@edelman.com
UK
Edelman
Claire Eldred
Tel: +44-207-344-1200
Email: claire.eldred@edelman.com
Lyon
Virginie Palpacuer / Anna Gabotto
Tel: +33-4-72-00-35-86
Email: virginie.palpacuer@kaelia.franne.babotto@kaelia.fr
BioVision 2007 Team
Andre de Marco
Tel: +33-6-13-53-32-39
Email: andredemarco@yahoo.com
Sophie L'Arnaud
Tel: +33-4-78-92-70-11
Email: sophie.larnaud@biovision.org
SOURCE BioVision